Sunny weather welcomes Arkansas Duck Calling Classic to Main Street

The classic will present three chances for duck callers to qualify for the 78th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest during Thanksgiving weekend in November.

Sarah Morris, smorris@stuttgartdailyleader.com

A wedding is not in the forecast for this year’s Arkansas Duck Calling Classic.

The sixth annual event will be down a wedding and a contest from last year. It’s set for Saturday with the duck calling contests beginning at 8:30 a.m. with the junior and intermediate, followed by the 10 a.m. Arkansas State, the 1 p.m. Cache River Regional and the 3:30 p.m. Mack’s Regional.

It will also include temperatures that could reach a high of 71. Jim Ronquest, one of the classic’s organizers, said it’s just one of the reasons residents should come out to watch and have a good time.

The junior and intermediate contest is open to contestants under the age 16 while Arkansas State is open to any Arkansas resident who will be 17-years-old on or by Nov. 30.

The Cache River Regional and Mack’s Regional contests are open to anyone, in state or out-of-state, who will be 17-years-old on or by Nov. 30.

During the classic, Main Street will be closed from Fourth to Sixth from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ronquest said registration would start at 7:30 a.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m. at the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 507 S. Main. Around 40 duck callers typically compete in each contest.

Bethany Hodges with the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce said about 150 duck callers are expected to compete in all.

The classic will present three chances for duck callers to qualify for the 78th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest during Thanksgiving weekend in November.